What Happened to Bobby Earl? (1997) (TV)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Bradley Wigor

Writer (WGA):

Joseph Maurer (written by)

Release Date:

28 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Rose Earl is proud as a peacock when Bobby, her eldest, whom she raised, like his kid brother Michael...

Plot Keywords:

Based On True Story | Character Name In Title

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Oct. 11

1:00 PM

LIFE

Cast

Kate Jackson	...	Rose Earl
Drew Ebersole	...	Bobby Earl
Matthew Settle	...	Tom Stahl
Kristian Alfonso	...	Chelsea Coals
Gary Basaraba	...	Jack Dietrick
Neal Huff	...	Michael Earl
Sean McCann	...	Mr. Earl
Vince Corazza	...	Mark
Henriette Ivanans	...	Jenny Kozinski
Jody Racicot	...	Andy
Scott Speedman	...	Steve Talbert
Carl Marotte	...	Officer Drummond
Kari Matchett	...	Nicki Corlis
Damir Andrei	...	Simon
Sean Dick	...	Jake

Also Known As:

Murder in a College Town

Runtime:

Germany:81 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Hamdon Entertainment

Not very good, but fair enough.

Okay, this film is not very good. But, I happen to be a great fan of Kate Jackson. I always hope her next film will be an independent art house film directed by someone like Todd Solondz, or a European project. Somehow few people seem to realize what a great actress Kate Jackson is, who would do great in a film like Happiness, or Billy Elliot. At the same time I am surprised that block buster directors do not notice her. Show a little courage, casting directors!

On the other hand, it could be that Jackson always shows up in television films voluntarily. She is doing a good job and has been very productive over the years, so it is not really a loss. And these television films are sometimes not even that bad. Coming from the Netherlands I have seen a lot worse. I am genuinely impressed by her performances in The Stranger Within, Armed and Innocent and Empty Cradle.

As I said earlier, What Happened to Bobby Earl ( a typical t.v. movie title) is not a very good film. The characters are quite flat and the best example of this is the 'bad woman' who tempts Bobby to walk the criminal path. She is the stereotypical femme fatale, dressed in black and red designer clothes and living a meaningless, expensive life.

Teaming up Rose, Jackson's character, with the insurance agent who is after the bad ones is very unrealistic. His character, I don't care whether based on reality, should have been left out altogether and is just one of the numerous weaknesses in this film. Lack of events, bad plot structure, length, needless melodrama, uninteresting filming locations and bad actors in supporting roles are others.

However, I very much am in favor of the social point that is being made in this film. When Bobby is given a revolver for his graduation by his friend, his mother Rose (Jackson) is astonished and shocked and cries out "What the hell kind of a gift is that to give to a college graduate!" and "Criminals have guns. Criminals and the police..."

I don't think we would see Rick Schroder or Charleton Heston in a film that makes a social comment like that.